Working double time at Georgia Southern

Thursday

So when preseason football practice begins today for Georgia Southern, the second-year coach will split his squad in two groups and conduct two workout sessions.

The theory is simple: Players will get twice as many repetitions in an allotted time period with half the squad on the field.

"You get to take your time and coach them up a little bit more," Hatcher said. "It really gives those guys a lot more opportunities to show us what they can do."

It's a time-management practice Hatcher has used since his days at Valdosta State. In 2003, the NCAA enacted new rules that prohibited true freshmen and transfers from organized practice in the days before returning players arrived.

The time with the new players allowed coaches to evaluate the incoming talent and plan how to mix it with the veterans.

And Hatcher has some mixing to do before the Eagles open the season Aug. 30 against Georgia.

The Eagles, 7-4 a year ago, lost 19 lettermen, including 11 starters.

The quarterback position is up in the air, and the defense could be looking at a new alignment.

The Eagles will have 22 true freshmen in camp and another 25 redshirt freshmen are listed on the roster.

Hatcher said every position is up for grabs.

The work begins at 8 a.m. today for some. Others will be on the field at 1:10 p.m.

Each session will last approximately two hours.

And it will count as one practice day, according to NCAA math.

GSU will have three split-squad practices during its first three days of workouts.

"It's not necessarily all freshmen in one group and upperclassmen in another," Hatcher said. "We'll try to divide it so the players get maximum amount of reps. Usually after that third practice, you have a pretty good idea who's capable of helping you this year and who's not."

The Eagles will have 90 players in practice today. The roster can expand after school starts Aug. 18.

Notes

Hatcher said wide receiver Irving Campbell lost an NCAA appeal to gain another season of eligibility. Campbell played only two games as a sophomore at Michigan State because of an injury and the Eagles had hoped the NCAA would grant a medical redshirt. ...

Hatcher said he hopes to keep versatile Chris Teal at wide receiver this season. Last season, as a true freshman, Teal played wide receiver, running back and defensive back. ...

Ohio State transfer quarterback Antonio Henton will work out with the early group today at 8 a.m. Redshirt freshman Lee Chapple, who was named the No. 1 quarterback coming out of spring, will direct the group starting at 1:10 p.m.

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